(Last Great Day—2020)
Why the world does not know or understand
about the second resurrection and their part in it!
Fred R. Coulter—October 10, 2020
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Greetings, brethren! Welcome to the Last Great Day of the Feast! Here we are at the end, and we will see that every ending has a new beginning.
This Feast of God is mentioned in Lev. 23; let's read the instructions of God. Then we will see something so absolutely fantastic, marvelous and awesome concerning the meaning of this Last Great Day.
I mentioned before how God has hidden things, and we will cover that, but part of it right here is that Lev. 23 is the only place in the entire Bible that all the Holy Days of God are listed in sequence, beginning with the Sabbath. Then going through every month and day of the year up through the Last Great Day on the Calculated Hebrew Calendar.
{Note booklet: Which is the True Calendar of God? (including Noah's Flood Calendar)} It is absolutely accurate!
Leviticus 23:34: "Speak to the children of Israel, saying…"
The Church is spiritual Israel; not a replacement of physical Israel, but spiritual Israel. Remember that the promise given to Abraham was to physical descendants and spiritual descendants; we are the spiritual descendants!
"…'The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the LORD. On the first day shall be a Holy convocation….'" (vs 34-35).
Verse 36: "Seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD…. [at the temple] …On the eighth day…"
This Feast is only mentioned twice in Lev. 23, and it is mentioned the least of any of the Feast days. Yet, we will see that it is the greatest!
"…shall be a Holy convocation to you. And you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. It is a solemn assembly. And you shall do no servile work therein" (v 36).
Verse 39—repeated again: "Also, in the fifteenth day of the seventh month when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep a Feast to the LORD seven days. On the first day shall be a Sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a Sabbath."
That's all the mention of the Last Great Day. What does it mean? We'll find out! On the all the Holy Days, since we don't offer offerings made by fire, we take up offerings in the way of monetary units as it is today.
So, we have a lot of ground to cover so we will pause and take up the offering. Then we will continue the greatest mystery of the Kingdom of God is the Last Great Day!
(pause for offering)
Thank you, brethren, for your offerings and being faithful to God. We always use the money to serve the brethren, preach the Gospel and do the things that God want us to do.
It is the glory of God to hide a matter and the honor of the king to discover it!
The Last Great Day God has hidden in a very interesting way, as well as all the Holy Days, and this can apply to the Sabbath as well. Let's see how God does it. To us, because God says:
The wise shall understand in the end-time. Blessed are those who keep His commandments; a good understanding have all they.
Let's see what God has done here. You've heard the phrase that 'the Word of God is shaper than a two-edged sword.' The two-edged sword of the Word of God opens understanding for those who have the Spirit of God and rightly divide the Word of God! The other edge of that spiritual sword closes the understanding to those who don't want to obey Him. To those who just want to profess Christ, profess the Father and receive Their love, but not give anything back to God in the way of loving God the Father and Jesus Christ with all the heart, mind, soul and being!
Isaiah 28:9—God says: "Whom shall He teach knowledge?…."
We're to be taught the knowledge of God. In the New Testament we are to have that kind of knowledge.
"…And whom shall He make to understand doctrine?…." (v 9). Doctrines are the set established teachings of God!
"…Those who are weaned from the milk and drawn from the breasts" (v 9). This tells us that newbies cannot readily understand it! You have to have a certain knowledge of the milk of the Word of God, a certain knowledge that you are independent enough spiritually that you can stand on your own two feet, because you're no longer on the milk.
Here's how God does it' it's a very interesting way; v 10: "'For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little'; for with stammering lips and foreign tongue He will speak to his people. To whom He said, 'This is the rest He gives to the weary,' and 'This is the refreshing,' yet, they were not willing to hear" (vs 10-12).
The key is that you must be willing to hear the Word of God. God has hidden it, but He will reveal it, because it's been revealed to us the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. This day pictures the greatest mystery of all!
Here's the other side of that sword of the Word; v 13: "So then, the Word of the LORD was to them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken and snared and taken"—because they want their own way!
What is a prime example of this? Sunday and the holidays of this world!
- Do they understand about God? No!
- Do they have any knowledge of His plan? No!
- Would they say that what we're teaching here would be heresy to them? Yes, indeed!
- Why?
Because we will see that when you fail to yield to God—in love and repentance, and hungering and thirsting after God's Word—you will never understand!
Verse 14: "Therefore, hear the Word of the LORD, you scornful men who rule this people in Jerusalem. Because you have said, 'We have made a covenant with death…'"
That's exactly what Sunday-keeping and all the holidays of this world produce: death!
- What's the first holiday of the year? Halloween!
- What does that picture? Death!
"…and we have made an agreement with the grave; when the overwhelming rod shall pass through, it shall not come to us…" (v 15).
They think because they have their own way, everything is going to be good.
"…for we have made lies our refuge…" (v 15). Think about that: Sunday, all the holidays are lies! They think that they have salvation through that.
"…and we have hidden ourselves under falsehood" (v 15). Sound like the political system today, and the deep state; as well as all the religious organizations that call themselves 'Christian'?
Let's carry this one step further. Let's see why this is such a great mystery. It's quite interesting what Jesus says; He spoke to them in parables. Why? So that they really wouldn't grasp what He was saying!
Matthew 13:10: "And His disciples came to Him and asked, 'Why do You speak to them in parables?' And He answered and said to them…(vs 10-11). Listen carefully:
- Do we understand the Holy Days? Yes, we understand them up to the point that we understand!
- Does that mean that there may be more understanding to it than we may fully realize? Of course!
It certainly was true for the apostles, because we understand more than they did. That doesn't make us greater than they, but that's because God gave the promise that in the last days the wise shall understand! Those that love God and serve Him and keep His commandments are wise!
Verse 11: "And He answered and said to them, 'Because it has been given to you… [each and every one of us. We all have a Bible, the Word of God] …to know the mysteries…"
There are many mysteries of the Kingdom of God. One of the greatest mysteries is: How does God raise the dead? And the Last great Day!We will see why it is a great mystery.
"…of the Kingdom of Heaven…" (v 11). Matthew says Heaven but it means from heaven to human beings!
"…but to them it has not been given. For whoever has understanding, to him more shall be given, and he shall have an abundance, but whoever does not have understanding, even what he has shall be taken away from him. For this reason I speak to them in parables, because seeing…" (vs 11-13).
All Protestants and Catholics think they see, they hear, they understand; but they don't!
"…they see not; and hearing, they hear not; neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which says, 'In hearing you shall hear, and in no way understand; and in seeing you shall see, and in no way perceive'" (vs 13-14).
They've got the whole Bible, but do they use it? No! Protestants say that the Old Testament has been fulfilled, and the Catholics say that that is the old law, and they don't keep much of the New Testament.
So, having a little bit of this and little bit of that, and a little bit of the other thing it's like having a huge puzzle with many pieces and when you get a few pieces put together you think you've accomplished it. But 90% of is yet to be put together.
Verse 15: "For the heart of this people has grown fat… [they're content in their own ways and they don't want anything else] …and their ears are dull of hearing… [they don't have time all of that] …and their eyes they have closed…"—they don't want to look at it; don't bother me with the things in the Old Testament.
To show you what they thought of what is commonly called the General Epistles, which were written by James, Peter, John and Jude. When Jerome put out the Catholic Bible—and this same order of books is followed through to the Protestants—he put Romans right after Acts instead of the General Epistles, beginning with James, and he put the General Epistles at the end just before the book of Revelation to downplay the importance of keeping the commandments of God!
"…lest they should see with their eyes, and should hear with their ears, and should understand with their hearts, and should be converted, and I should heal them" (v 15).
What is said in evangelical Protestantism is that God wants to save the world. NO! Not at this time! God wants to call the firstfruits and that's not to save the whole world. God doesn't want to convert them now, that's what Jesus said.
Since God has done this, how is He going to solve this problem? That's answered in the Last Great Day and we will see in a little bit.
Verse 16: "But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. For truly I say to you, many prophets and righteous men have desired to see what you see, and have not seen; and to hear what you hear, and have not heard" (vs 16-17).
Let's look at something interjected here in v 43: "Then… [at the resurrection] …shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. The one who has ears to hear, let him hear."
Right in the middle of it, what a comparison! They're not given the understanding. Has God cut them off entirely?
The Gospel of John is wrapped around the Holy Days:
- the Passover
- there's Trumpets
- Unleavened Bread
- the Feast of Tabernacles
- the Last Great Day
John 7:37: "Now, in the last day, the great day of the Feast…" Why is it called the great day? Because of the meaning of it!
"…Jesus stood and called out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink'" (v 37)
That sounds like a contradiction of Matt. 13that He didn't want them to hear, see or understand, lest they would be converted and He would heal them! Here He says, "…If anyone…"
I want you think on that statement for just a minute! That includes any individual human being.
- How many going back in history lived and died and never had a slight chance of understanding about God's plan?
- How many from the time of Christ, after He came, were really converted and part of the firstfruits?
All of the rest of the world is blinded, dumb—can't hear or speak (the Word of God)—have been given over to their own devices!
- Are all of them lost because God didn't call them?
If God didn't call them:
- Why did Jesus Christ Himself say, "…If anyone thirsts…" when they never had a chance!
We'll answer that!
Verse 38: "The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said…"
What do the Scriptures say? If you love Me keep My commandments, and I will send you another Comforter, the Holy Spirit, which proceeds from the Father!
"'…out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.' But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, which those who believed in Him would soon receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified" (vs 38-39).
Even these few verses right here are quite a mystery in itself! Yes, it is! When you first learned about God's way, and began to understand certain things, what was the key that began to open understanding to you? Keeping the Sabbath Day! That's the key because God puts His presence in it.
Now we'll come to what appears to be another contradiction. In John 7 He said anyone!
- What if God deliberately blinded them and they couldn't understand?
- Doesn't that eliminate a lot if they don't have an opportunity for salvation? Yes, indeed!
1-Timothy 2:1: " exhort, therefore, first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men…. [we pray for peace so we can preach the Gospel] …for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all Godliness and respectability" (vs 1-2).
But look at the mobs and things we have today. Christians are the #1 target, even the fake Christians.
Verse 3: "For this is good and acceptable before God our Savior, Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the Truth" (vs 3-4).
- How can that happen if their eyes are blinded, their ears are stopped, and their minds are clouded so they can't understand?
- Is that a contradiction?
- Does that mean that they're all lost and will never have any salvation?
Verse 5: "For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men—the Man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all… [anyone] … the testimony of which is to be preached in its appointed times" (vs 5-6).
The appointed times are the Feasts of God, so here is a clue telling us how we understand the Word of God!
Verse 7: "For this purpose I was ordained a preacher and an apostle (I speak the truth in Christ—I do not lie), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth."
Let's see what Paul says to Timothy concerning understanding the Word of God. It just doesn't come by reading. Reading is where you begin. Repentance, obeying and loving God follow after that. Then to grow in grace and knowledge we are to rightly divide the Word of God.
2-Timothy 2:15: "Diligently study to show yourself approved unto God…" Constantly without fail, with zeal, purpose and determination!
"…a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of the Truth" (v 15)—which is a little here, a little there; line upon line, precept upon precept! You have to rightly put it together.
Unless you have the Sabbath and Holy Days as the framework on which all Scripture hangs, you won't be able to understand it.
Verse 16: "But avoid profane and vain babblings because they will only give rise to more ungodliness"—bringing in the teachings of men!
That's what happens, and slowly it will take everything down, as Paul says here:
Verse 17: "And their words will eat away at the body… [the Church] …like gangrene… [or cancer] …of whom are Hymeneus and Philetus, who have gone astray from the Truth, claiming that the resurrection has already taken place, and are destroying the faith of some" (vs 17-18).
Isn't that something? We're always being tested by these, aren't we? Here's what we need to understand; in spite of what men do, try to do or think that they should do, God's Word:
- always stands true
- is always righteous
- is always what God wants us to do and obey
Verse 19: "Nevertheless, the foundation of God stands firm…" What is that foundation?
- Christ the Rock
- Christ the Chief Cornerstone
- Christ the Head of the Church
- Christ our Savior
- Christ the Forerunner for us by being resurrected from the dead
"…having this seal: 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and, 'Let everyone who calls upon the name of Christ depart from unrighteousness'" (v 19).
Those are all the keys necessary for understanding the Truth of God!
2-Peter 3:9—written by Peter: "The Lord is not delaying the promise of His coming, as some in their own minds reckon delay…
Verse 8 says: "…with the Lord, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."
When Peter wrote this, he knew nothing of what John was to be given in the book of Revelation. When they were preaching their ministry, they were thinking that Jesus was going to return during their lifetimes. They didn't have all the knowledge; they had some understanding, but you can't understand prophecy unless you have the book of Revelation. Daniel is the lock and Revelation is the key to unlock the understanding. The first thing that that unlocks is the Sabbath and Holy Days of God, which then gives us the framework to put everything of God upon it.
Verse 9: "…rather, He is longsuffering toward us, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." How can all come to repentance:
- when they were blinded?
- when they were not called?
- when repentance is a gift of God?
How is God going to solve this great and terrible mystery?
We have distinguish between sin that is forgivable and sin that is not forgivable or unpardonable. There are those two categories of sin. Not everyone in the world that have not had their mind open have committed the unpardonable sin. This is important to understand: What is God going to do?
1-John 5:16: "If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin that is not unto death… [pardonable] …he shall ask… [pray for him] …and He [God] will give him life for those who do not sin unto death. There is a sin unto death; concerning that sin, I do not say that he should make any supplication to God."
God looks at the world this way; v 17: "All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not unto death."
As we look at our situation, He's talking about a brother who is in the Church.
Verse 18: "We know that anyone who is begotten by God…" A very important thing, because begotten is the Spirit of God given to us, which is the seed from God the Father of eternal life. Then the other half of that seed is the mind of Christ!This is how we develop the character.
"…does not practice sin…" (v 18). Does not live in sin; it doesn't say they don't sin, because:
John 2:1: "And yet, if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father; Jesus Christ the Righteous; and He is the propitiation for our sins…" (vs 1-2).
1-John 5:18: "…For the one who has been begotten by God keeps himself by the power of God, and the wicked one does not touch him." That's how there is the difference with the Spirit of God!
Verse 19: "We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the wicked one." That's something!
- What is God going to do about the whole world?
- Have they not all been under Satan the devil from the time of Adam and Eve clear down to the end-time and the return of Jesus Christ, with the exception of those whom God has called? Yes!
Let's go back in history:
- How many people lived and died before the Flood? Probably a couple of billion!
- How many righteous ones were there? Just a handful, most notably:
- Abel
- Seth
- Enoch
- Noah
God destroyed the whole world because of sin! What's going to happen to them? Then we come forward a little bit of time from that and we come to Abraham: one man!
From that one man was going to come the whole process of the physical seed that later would become Israel, and the spiritual seed that would become the sons and daughters of God! From the one man! Everybody else God didn't have anything to do with. So, what is God going to do about that?
Verse 20: And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding, so that we may know Him Who is true; and we are in Him Who is true, and in His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God, and the eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen" (vs 20-21)—idols were starting to come in!
Romans 2:14 "For when the Gentiles… [none of the 12 tribes] …which do not have the Law, practice by nature the things contained in the Law, these who do not have the Law are a law unto themselves."
Since God is no respecter of persons, they received certain blessings for doing things that are in accord with the Law of God, whether they understand anything about it or not. That's how fair God is!
Verse 15: "Who show the work of the Law…" We won't get into it, but this is different from works of law! This is "…the work of the Law…" which is the Law of God that God shows right here is a good thing, because it's the Law of God!
"…written in their own hearts, their consciences bearing witness, and their reasonings also as they accuse or defend one another); in a day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my Gospel" (vs 15-16).
What does that tell us? Remember that it says, every knee is going to bow! Let's understand that there are not many direct open statements in the Bible about what God is going to do about it, that you can find in any one place. Notice that we've been going from Scripture to Scripture, book to book, chapter to chapter and putting things together, rightly dividing the Word of God!
Matt. 12—let's see something important in what this tells us. As we saw from 1-John 5:16 that there is a sin that is not unto death! That means the second death!
Matthew 12:31—the very words of Jesus: "Because of this, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men except the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit; that shall not be forgiven to men."
What is the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? That is the Spirit that comes from God the Father and they reject it and treat it with contempt, going against it in the grossest of sins unrepentant! That's the sin unto death!
Verse 32: "And whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit… [because it comes from God the Father and you're rejecting God the Father] …it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this age nor in the coming age."
What a thing to understand, and that's what this Last Great Day pictures, another coming age.
Verse 33: "Either make the tree good and the fruit good, or make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for a tree is known by its fruit."
They wanted a sign, 'Show us what You can do.'
Verse 38: "Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, 'Master, we desire to see a sign from You.' And He answered and said to them, 'A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. For just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, in like manner the Son of man shall be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights'" (vs 38-40).
Listen, this goes right back up there to v 32: "…it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this age nor in the coming age."
Verse 41: "The men of Nineveh… [who repented at the warning of Jonah] …shall stand up… [raised from the dead] …in the judgment with this generation…" There was over a thousand-year's difference between them!
"…and shall condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the south… [another 500-600 years later] …shall rise up in the judgment with this generation and shall condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here" (v 41).
What is this telling us? Let's see again that the meaning of this Last Great Day is buried in a place where just a few words are used. What is it in Lev. 23? A few words, the eighth day, a Holy convocation! It tells nothing about the meaning of it.
Matt. 12 tells us that there are going to be people raised from the dead. When will they be raised? No one could have know until the book of Revelation was written!
Rev. 20 talks about the first resurrection, and notice that here's a little parenthetical statement:
Revelation 20:6: "Blessed and Holy is the one who has part in the first resurrection…" Is there another resurrection? Yes! If there's a first there must be one after that.
"…over these the second death has no power…."
Verse 5: "(But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were completed.)…."
The Bible tells us that those who are Christ's will be raised at His coming (v 4).
Who are the rest of the dead? All of those who are not in the first resurrection! We will see what a fantastic thing this is going to be!
(Break)
Let's continue on this Last Great Day and why this is the greatest Feast of all, for the greatest fulfillment of God's plan ever! And to answer the question that none of the apparent contradictions are true. God has hidden the meaning of it, and there's only place in the Old Testament that it is given, and only one place in the New Testament where it is given clearly. Matt. 12 is the introduction to those two places.
Ezek. 37 is one of my favorite chapters in the entire Bible, because this is the chapter of:
- hope
- undoing all wrongs
- showing that God is going to give knowledge of salvation to all who will
- the desire to have all mankind saved is true
Even though the final decision is the individual's as to whether he wants it or not.
- that's God's plan is going to be greater, bigger, and more fulfilling than anything human's have understood
- That's why it is hidden!
- That's why God has saved it for the Last Great Day!
Ezekiel 37:1: "The hand of the LORD was on me, and brought me by the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of a valley, and it was full of bones."
If there are bones that means that these people have lived and died. You don't get bones in the ground unless they have been buried. So, here's a whole valley, and God is showing how vast that this is going to be!
Verse 2: "And He made me walk among them all around…." Take a look around that valley and look at the bones!
"…And behold, very many were in the open valley. And lo, they were very dry" (v 2)—to show that they had died long, long ago!
Verse 3: "And He said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' And I answered, 'O Lord GOD, You know.' Again He said to me, 'Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, "O dry bones, hear the Word of the LORD"'" (vs 3-4). Think of that! How are dry bones going to be able to hear? Because all things are possible with God!
Verse 5: "Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones, 'Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.'" This is the resurrection of the rest of the dead!
Verse 6: "And I will lay sinews on you, and will bring up flesh on you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live.…"
This resurrection is not to eternal life. This resurrection is to physical life for their first opportunity to receive salvation. In their first life they didn't have it. They may have, a lot of them, been good, upstanding people, and a lot of them may not have been good, upstanding people; it doesn't make any difference! This has to be those who did not commit the unpardonable sin!
"'…And you shall know that I am the LORD.'…. [in their first life, they didn't know] …So, I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a noise. And behold, a shaking! And the bones came together, a bone to its bone. And as I watched, behold the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them above. But there was no breath in them"(vs 6-8). Just like when Adam was created, God had to breathe into him the breath of life!
Verse 9: "And He said to me, 'Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, "Thus says the Lord GOD, 'Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain that they may live.'"'" Think about that!
Verse 10: "So, I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army." The vast majority of all people!
Verse 11: "And He said to me, 'Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, "Our bones are dried and our hope is lost; we ourselves are completely cut off."'" The didn't have any hope of salvation in their first life! They didn't expect to receive it! This shows:
- God's love
- God's grace
- God's mercy
- God's understanding
- God fulfilling His plan to the absolute maximum
Verse 12: "Therefore, prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves… [they had live, died and were buried] …and cause you to come up out of your graves, and will bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD…"'" (vs 12-13). That means they will be converted!
"'…when I have opened your graves, O My people, and have brought you up out of your graves. And I shall put My Spirit in you… [conversion] …and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. And you shall know that I the LORD have spoken it and have done it,' says the LORD." (vs 13-14).
They're going to live! How long do you think they will live. The same length of time that those during the Millennium had, a hundred years! Salvation requires:
- growth
- understanding
- learning of God's way
- repentance of sins
This is going to be something. At this time they won't have any children. You've got to stop human child production someplace along the line, and this is the place. Otherwise it just still keeps going on and on in the flesh, and you go through the same cycle of all of these things. It is fantastic what is said here.
What's going happen? Let's understand something really, really important concerning this, because this will give them an opportunity for salvation. We know, as the Apostle Peter wrote, that judgment is now on the house of God; that is judgment unto salvation.
Revelation 20:11: "Then I saw a great white throne and the One Who was sitting on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead…" (vs 11-12). That's the rest of the dead! We'll have to say, because of the incorrigible wicked that have to be raised, there are two parts to the second resurrection.
- the first part to salvation
- the second part the incorrigible wicked unto the second death
It's given to all who sin without repentance to die twice! God is going to do it this way: they all will die together! Just like all the sinners before the Flood died together.
Verse 12: "And I saw the small and great, standing before God…"
What are you going to do? Here we are! Think about this, when they're resurrected they're not going to have any clothes, so what's going to have to happen? I think that's going to be a great boom for the last generation of the Millennium to prepare clothes and shoes for all those to be resurrected in the second resurrection! No unemployment at that time!
"…and the books were opened…" (v 12). What are these books? These are the book of their life and their former deeds, which they'll have a chance to repent of them!
"…and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life…." (v 12)—which will be opened for them!
Right now, our names are written in the Book of Life for the first resurrection, so there has to be a Book of Life for those in the second resurrection so they can have an opportunity for salvation. That's what this is telling us.
"…And the dead were judged out of the things written in the books, according to their works" (v 12). The judgment has to be on the life they're going to live—the second life—which if we follow Isa. 65 will be 100 years. They will be judged how they are living in that period of time.
If they were to be judge solely only on the works that they did before they died in their first life—the wages of sin is death—why resurrect them. So, here they will have an opportunity to repent because they did not sin a sin unto death!
Then they will have the opportunity to be judged how they live just like we are today, and just like people will be all during the Millennium.
All of those who committed the unpardonable sin will have to be raised so they can all be judged at once.
Verse 13: "And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and the grave gave up the dead that were in them; and they were judged individually, according to their works. And death and the grave were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death" (vs 13-14)
If this is the second death, what does that mean? That means that they lived once already!
Verse 15: "And if anyone was not found written in the Book of Life, he was cast into the Lake of Fire."
That's quite a thing! This is the greatest day of all! After that we have a projection into the complete fulfillment of the eighth day: a new heavens and a new earth!
- What's going to happen with new heavens and new earth? They're cast into the Lake of Fire (v 15)!
- What is that going to do?
2-Peter 3 tells us what's going to happen, and this has to happen before New Jerusalem can come down.
2-Peter 3:8: "Now, beloved, do not let this one fact be hidden from you: that with the Lord, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not delaying the promise of His coming, as some in their own minds reckon delay; rather, He is longsuffering toward us, not desiring that any should perish…" (vs 8-9).
That's God's desire, but there is the second death. But that's by the choice of the individuals who refuse to repent and go God's way.
"…but that all should come to repentance. However, the Day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night in which the heaven itself shall disappear with a mighty roar, and the elements shall pass away, burning with intense heat, and the earth and the works in it shall be burned up" (vs 9-10).
When the Lake of Fire for the wicked is there and they're cast in to that Lake of Fire, then it begins to consume the whole earth. Why? To prepare for new heaven and new earth! You've got to burn it all up! As spirit beings fire won't affect us!
Verse 11: "Since all these things are going to be destroyed, what kind of persons ought you to be in Holy conduct and Godliness, looking forward to and striving for the coming of the day of God, during which the heavens, being on fire, shall be destroyed, and the elements, burning with intense heat, shall melt? But according to His promise, we look forward to a new heaven and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells" (vs 11-13).
That's what happens between Rev. 20:15 and the Rev. 21:1! It has to be all prepared, ready for the greatest thing to happen in all of God's plan up to this point.
Revelation 21:1: "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away…" How did it pass away? We just read it in 2-Peter 3!
"…and there was no more sea. And I, John, saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" (vs 1-2)—magnificent and beautiful!
Verse 3: "And I heard a great voice from heaven say, 'Behold, the Tabernacle of God is with men…'" That goes clear back to:
- the Garden of Eden
- the tabernacle
- the temple
- God's plan
And now the fulfillment of it with men and women made perfect, spirit beings!
"…and He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His people; and God Himself shall be with them and be their God" (v 3). Think about how great this is going to be! God is going to do this!
Verse 4: "And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall not be anymore death, or sorrow, or crying; neither shall there be any more pain, because the former things have passed away.'" We're all spirit beings, the sons and daughters of God! Quite a thing, indeed!
Now we're going to see who are in the first resurrection will be in New Jerusalem. All the nations that are saved will live on the earth outside of New Jerusalem, but they will come to New Jerusalem.
Verse 5: "And He Who sits on the Throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.' Then He said to me, 'Write, for these words are true and faithful.'" They're going to happen! They're going to take place!
Verse 6: "And He said to me, 'It is done…. [finished; this part of God's plan up to this point is complete] …I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the one who thirsts, I will give freely of the fountain of the Water of Life. The one who overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son" (vs 6-7).
Quite a fantastic thing, indeed! So great and marvelous what God is doing, that we're going to be a part of, just think about that! Think about all the difficulties and problems that we have gone through. Think about all the difficulties and problems that people in the world have gone through, and the saints down through history have gone through, as well. All of that will be ended!
But here's a warning; just like God does all the time, He give certain things and then He says, 'The one who hears, let him hear.' Likewise we have the same pattern right here:
Verse 8: "But the cowardly, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone; which is the second death." That's showing very clearly that there's not going to be any unrighteousness in the new heavens and the new earth!
Verse 9: "And one of the seven angels that had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, 'Come here, and I will show you the Bride, the Lamb's wife.' And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, Holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. And her radiance was like a most precious stone, as crystal-clear as jasper stone. And the city also had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and inscribed on the gates were the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel" (vs 9-12)—for all eternity!
Verse 13: "On the east were three gates; on the north were three gates; on the south were three gates; on the west were three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and written on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And the one who was speaking with me had a golden measuring rod, so that he might measure the city, and its gates and its wall. And the city lies foursquare, for its length is as long as its breadth. And he measured the city with the rod, twelve thousand furlongs… [about 1500 miles] …the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured its wall, one hundred and forty-four cubits…" (vs 13-17). Where do we get 144? That's the 144,000!
"…the angel's measure was according to a man's. And the structure of its wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like pure glass" (vs 17-18).
Imagine that! I have no idea what that looks like, buy that is going to be stunning, indeed! We're going to have to be spirit beings in order to really understand that and grasp it fully.
Verse 19: "And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every precious stone… [then it lists all 12 stones for the foundation]: …the first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst" (vs 19-20).
Verse 21: "And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each of the gates respectively was a single pearl; and the street of the city was pure gold, as transparent as glass."
I don't know how that's going to work, because physical things in a spiritual world look different than physical things in a physical world viewed with physical eyes. The only think I can say is that in order for us to really appreciate this and to understand what this really is like, we're going to have to be there!
Verse 22: "And I saw no temple in it; for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it."
Where did we start with the Feast of Tabernacles? Build Me a tabernacle that I may dwell among them (Exo. 25:8)! Look at what we have here! Don't need a temple!
Verse 23: "And the city has no need of the sun, or of the moon…" Doesn't say that they won't be there; they'll be there because you have to count time.
"…that they should shine in it; because the glory of God enlightens it, and the Light of it is the Lamb. And the nations that are saved shall walk in its Light…" (vs 23-24).
All the nations that are saved will live outside of New Jerusalem. Only those in the first resurrection will be in New Jerusalem.
"…and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honor into it" (v 24). So, though we live there, we'll also be running the different nations in the spiritual kingdom as well.
Verse 25: "And its gates shall never be shut by day; for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it" (vs 25-26).
- What are we going to be doing?
- What will all of those in the resurrection be doing?
We're going to be making and producing whatever we will be doing! We're not going to sitting around twiddling our thumbs or playing games, whatever.
Jesus said, 'I work, and until now My Father is working.' So, what kind of work will they have? We don't know, but we'll have to wait and see, and get there to see what that will be like!
Verse 27: "And nothing that defiles shall ever enter into it…"—because everyone is going to be the sons or daughters of God!
"…nor shall anyone who practices an abomination or devises a lie; but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life" (v 27).
The Book of Life is opened to the great innumerable multitude as well. So, they can come into the city, but they will live someplace else on the earth.
Rev. 22: this is one my most favorite chapters in the Bible. It shows God's great love, God's great plan, all peace, love, joy, truth—everything that is good and Holy.
Revelation 22:1: "Then he showed me a pure river of the Water of Life…" What is that going to be made of? Not water like we have today that we see, drink and use!
"…clear as crystal… [no pollution there; don't need the EPA to keep it clean] …flowing out from the Throne of God and of the Lamb." So, there are two thrones there flowing out!
Verse 2: "And in the middle of the street, and on this side and that side of the river, was the Tree of Life, producing twelve manner of fruits, each month…"
That shows that the sun and moon are there. You don't have months unless you have the moon and sun.
"…yielding its fruit; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations" (v 2)—or the maintenance of the nations!
How that's going to work I don't know! But we never have had a Tree of Life that we could say that we could surmise how it will be.
Verse 3: "And there shall be no more curse… [because there's no more sin] …and the Throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him."
This next verse is one of the most profound verses in the Bible, because we will be there with God the Father and He is our Father, and Jesus Christ our Savior.
Verse 4: "And they shall see His face… [and we will say, 'Abba Father'] …and His name is in their foreheads"—completely devoted to God!
Verse 5: "And there shall be no night there; for they have no need of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God enlightens them; and they shall reign into the ages of eternity." That's why the universe is so vast!
Can you imagine—as we understand God's plan related to the earth and us now—think how awesome…
Of course, it will be very difficult for us to, but at least we can contemplate it by looking at many of the beautiful views of the universe that we see. Where there are billions, and billions, and billions—even trillions—of galaxies and stars! God does nothing in vain! God wastes nothing at all! He has a use for it all, but He needs all of us to be there with Him so we can go into the vastness of the universe and carry out whatever plan God has for us, that He will reveal to us.
Verse 6: "And he said to me, 'These words are faithful and true; and the Lord God of the Holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things that must shortly come to pass.'" Compared to eternity, that's shortly!
Verse 7: "Behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." The whole Bible! It is the Truth of God, the Truth of God, the Truth of God in everything that we do!
Verse 8: Now I, John, was the one who saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who was showing me these things. But he said to me, 'See that you do not do this! For I am a fellow servant of yours, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.'" (vs 8-9). That's what we're going to do, brethren! What a thing that is!
Verse 10: "And he said to me, 'Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book because the time is near.' Let the one who is unrighteous be unrighteous still; and let the one who is filthy be filthy still; and let the one who is righteous be righteous still; and let the one who is Holy be Holy still" (vs 10-11).
Verse 12: "And behold, I am coming quickly… [in relationship to how God views time] …and My reward is with Me, to render to each one according as his work shall be." That's why we want to always diligently:
- love God with all our heart, mind, soul and being
- love Jesus Christ
- praise Them for Their plan
- thank them for Their goodness
- yield to Them in our lives
in everything that we do so that we can be in New Jerusalem with Them!
- see the Father face-to-face
- see Jesus face-to-face
Brethren, don't let anything get between you and God, so you can aspire and attain and be there, witness this, and do this!
Verse 13: "I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Blessed are those who keep His commandments, that they may have the right to eat of the Tree of Life, and may enter by the gates into the city" (vs 13-14). That includes those in the City, and those out of the City!
Verse 15: But excluded are dogs, and sorcerers, and fornicators, and murderers, and idolaters, and everyone who loves and devises a lie. I, Jesus, sent My angel to testify these things to you in the churches…. [all churches pay attention; listen up]: …I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright and morning star." (vs 15-16).
Verse 17: "And the Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come.' And let the one who hears say, 'Come.' And let the one who thirsts come; and let the one who desires partake of the water of life freely."
- that's what God wants
- that's our destiny
- that's the destiny of all mankind
Think of it! To little ole us God reveals to His people
- His plan
- His secrets
- the mysteries of His Kingdom
Verse 18: "For I jointly testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, that if anyone adds to these things, God shall add to him the plagues that are written in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy… [the whole Bible] …God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, and from the Holy City, and from the things that are written in this book. He Who testifies these things says, 'Surely, I am coming quickly.' Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen" (vs 18-21).
That's the meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day! It's been wonderful, we've had a great Feast and we're thankful that we have this knowledge. Let's
- keep it
- understand it
- believe it
and live our lives so that we can:
- change
- grow
- overcome
and develop the character of God!
Scriptural References:
- Leviticus 23:34
- Isaiah 28:9-15
- Matthew 13:10-17, 43
- John 7:37-39
- 1 Timothy 2:1-7
- 2 Timothy 2:15-19
- 2 Peter 3:9, 8-9
- 1 John 5:16-18
- 1 John 2:1-2
- 1 John 5:18-21
- Romans 2:14-16
- Matthew 12:31-33, 38-40, 32, 41
- Revelation 20:6, 5
- Ezekiel 37:1-14
- Revelation 20:11-15
- 2 Peter 3:8-13
- Revelation 21:1-27
- Revelation 22:1-21
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- Revelation 20:4
- Isaiah 65
- Exodus 25:8
Also referenced: Booklet:
Which is the True Calendar of God?
by Carl D. Franklin & Fred R. Coulter
FRC:bo
Transcribed: 8/10/20
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